NEW flood defences will not eliminate the risk to a housing site in the centre of Boroughbridge, the Environment Agency has claimed.

The agency made the claim while commenting on plans to build eight new homes at the junction of Horsefair and St Helena in the town's conservation area.

But a planning application to Ripon area planning committee of Harrogate Borough Council was given the go-ahead with conditions to be approved by council planning chiefs.

Five town houses, two semi-detached homes and a detached property will be built on the site of a former betting office and bungalow.

The scheme brought six letters raising concerns about a number of issues including lack of parking and congestion but planners gave the go-ahead, subject to 24 conditions imposed on the development